COST AND SERVICE IMPACTS OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS IN TEN STATES - RESPONSES TO ANGRY YOUTH

• NCJ Number: 45306
• Author(s): P B BURKE; J C HELM; J L WHITE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 72 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-013-77
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare; US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Council of State Governments; Academy for Contemporary Problems; Arthur D Little, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT

Annotation

THE STATE OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, SERVICES AVAILABLE TO STATUS OFFENDERS, COST ANALYSIS, AND ISSUES ARE SUMMARIZED FOR 10 STATES.

Abstract

THE CASE STUDIES COMPLETED BETWEEN APRIL AND AUGUST OF 1977 COVERED THE FOLLOWING STATES: ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, FLORIDA, IOWA, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, OREGON, UTAH, AND WISCONSIN. THESE STATES REPRESENT A MIX OF SIZE, APPROACH TO YOUTH SERVICE DELIVERY, GEOGRAPHY, AND APPROACH TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN GREATER ON REMOVING STATUS OFFENDERS FROM CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAN ON REMOVING THEM FROM DETENTION. STATE STRATEGIES VARY, WITH MAJOR CLUSTERS OF ACTIONS AIMED AT REMOVAL OR LIMITATION OF THE COURT'S ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OVER STATUS OFFENDERS AND DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED YOUTH SERVICES. THE MAJOR UNRESOLVED ISSUE IS PREADJUDICATIVE DETENTION, NOT LONGER-TERM COMMITMENTS TO STATE INSTITUTIONS FOLLOWING ADJUDICATION; THE STATES STUDIED ARE NOT SENDING LARGE NUMBERS OF STATUS OFFENDERS TO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ASIDE FROM STATE INSTITUTIONS, THE NEXT MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS LONG-TERM RESIDENCE IN PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS. THE MANDATE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974 HAS, IN LARGE MEASURE, SHAPED THE DIALOGUE IN THE STATES ABOUT EXISTING AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT OF THE STATUS OFFENDER POPULATION. THE AVAILABLE DATA ABOUT DISPOSITIONS AND PLACEMENTS SEEM TO BE IMPROVING AS STATES TAKE ON THEIR SYSTEM-MONITORING RESPONSIBILITIES. REGARDING SERVICE NEEDS AND GAPS, THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS ARE MADE: (1) THE STATUS OFFENDER POPULATION OVERLAPS IN TERMS OF SERVICE NEEDS WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND DEPENDENT AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, AS WELL AS EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN; (2) SOME STATUS OFFENDERS ARE AT LEAST AS WELL OFF LEFT ALONE, WITH NO PUBLIC INTERVENTION, TO MATURE OUT OF THEIR PROBLEMS; (3) THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SERVICE NEED AND THE FIRST GAP TO BE IDENTIFIED BY STATES IS SOME ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION--EMERGENCY AND 'STRUCTURED' SHELTER CARE, FOSTER CARE, GROUP HOMES, AND RUNAWAY HOUSES ARE UTILIZED TO MEET THIS NEED; (4) SERVICES NEEDED, BUT WEAKLY REPRESENTED IN MANY STATES, ARE RESIDENTIAL PSYCHIATRIC CARE, FAMILY COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ADOLESCENTS, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, JOB DEVELOPMENT, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING ARRANGEMENTS; (5) THERE IS A SCARCITY OF SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS; AND (6) APPROACHES TO ALLEVIATE THE FRAGMENTATION WHICH CHARACTERIZES DELIVERY SYSTEMS ARE SUGGESTED. REGARDING COST IMPACTS AND FUNDING IMPLICATIONS, THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT COST IMPACTS OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS ARE NOT PREDICTABLE ACCORDING TO AN ANALYTIC MODEL. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT NO SIGNIFICANT INCREMENTAL COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND SOME EVIDENCE EXISTS THAT THERE ARE POSSIBLE COST SAVINGS OVER TIME. OTHER FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE TREATMENT OF STATUS OFFENDERS IS OF RELATIVELY LOW PUBLIC VISIBILITY, THAT MOST OF THE STATE OFFICIALS FELT STATUS OFFENSES SHOULD REMAIN UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT, AND THAT MANY OFFICIALS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS SEE A NEED FOR PREVENTIVE SERVICES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).